Gastrointestinal tube



Feb. 28, 1950 M. P. MAINS GAsTRoINTEsTINAL TUBE` Filed Jan. 4, 1949 @Hon/lult Patented Feb. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES .PATENT o Price 'GASTROINTESTINALQTUBE 'MaI'.ShaIUPauIMainS, `vYardley, Pa. Application J anuary 4, .1949, SerialNo. I.69,143

v '2 Claims. (Cl.128-348) \(Grranted -imder .the act of `March A'3, '1883, as

"The finvention Ydescribedherein :may `loe manufactu-red `and ius'edby -gorifor the :Government ,for governmental purposes, without payment to me of any froyalty thereon.

The present -invention :relates tinal tubes adapted to "-be passed lthrough into the pylorus and thence kinto-the small-intestine for the purpose 4-of 'withdrawing intestinal contents and :for injecting .fuid material into the intestine. i

Such 'tubes "as 4made 'at present cannot'be directed'through fthe 'stomach-with any vdegree -of facility, even under :'uoroscopy. rIhese ytubes tend to ycurl around in'fthe .stomach and there is no way to direct the tip of the tube into the pylorus, and it frequently-.isnecessary to get the tip of the tubeinto the .small intestine .as `soon as possible, especiallyin patients who Lhave intestinal obstruction.

One object oi the present invention is to provide a vgastro-intestinal tube which obviates the objections tothe present construction of tubes and which is passed easily through the stomach into the pylorus under fluoroscopic control.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gastro-intestinal tube which is provided with means for positively guiding the tube through the stomach into the pylorus.

A still further object oi the invention is to provide a gastro-intestinal tube upon which are provided means adapted to be grasped by the intestinal walls for propelling the tube through the pylorus into the intestine.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, and the features of novelty will be pointed out in particularity in the appended claims.

The invention will be understood more clearly by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic View showing the improved tube of the present invention passing through the pylorus of the stomach into the small intestine.

Fig. 2 is fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation of the distal end portion of the tube, with a fragment of the proximal end.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the distal end of the tube ilexed for guiding the tube into the pylorus;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the tube shown in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig, 5 is a transverse sectional elevation through the tube, taken on the line V-V of Fig. 2, looking in the direction o f the arrows; and

to 'gastro-intes- :f

.amendedApril 30, 1928.; 370 fO. fG. 757) Fig. 6 llis vanother 'transverse sectional view, 'taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. `2, look-ing in lthe 'direction Vofthe arrows.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved gastro-lintestinal tube of the'present invention comprises va 'proximal portion A and a -itlistal portion `B, the periphery of jthe proximal portion Abeing lcontinuously uninterrupted, while the distal portion-B yis characterized by an interrupted yperiphery due to oppositely aprojecting, relatively staggered projections or ears,'which will be referred ito further hereinafter.

The tube `also comprises 'a continuous, `resilient body l8, conveniently composed of molded rubber, the 'endof the 'distal portion'B terminating in ya rigidtip `Il) 'securedthereto "The body 8 incloses a longitudinally extending, large lumen or fluid passage I2,"vvhich communicates lwith iluid passage `holes I4 and I E, the series of holes I 4 extending longitudinally along the periphery of the Vdistal 'portion 'B of the tube, whilethe series of holes' I6 extends circumferentially around the rigid distal tip I0. The body 8 of the tube also incloses a relatively narrow uid passage or lumen I8, which extends parallel to the passage I2, but opens into the periphery of the distal portion B of the tube in advance of the tip end and with a channel I9 enclosed by a resilient, extensible balloon member 20 which can be inflated or deated at will through air or other fluid passing under pressure through the passage I8, or through suction applied to this passage. In use, the distal tip I0, which is a rigid tip for guidance of the tube, is passed through the pylorus, as is indicated in Fig. l, and into the intestine, then the balloon 20 is inflated by air or other fluid under pressure in the passage I8. The inflation of the balloon 20 after insertion into the intestine gives the intestine something large to grasp for pro-pulsion of the tube along the intestine. The holes I4 and I6 enable gas and fluid to be evacuated from the intestine under suction applied to the passage I2, and, alternatively, fluid may be injected ,into the intestine through these holes. It will be noted that the balloon member 29 is intermediate the series of holes I4 and I6.

As has been mentioned above, the periphery of the distal portion B of the improved gastron intestinal tube of this invention is interrupted by a pair of series of diametrically oppositely disposed projections or lugs 22, which extend in opposite directions from the periphery of the tube, the individual members of one of the series being staggered relatively to the individual members of theother series.

The body 8 of the tube also has molded therevend of the proximal portion A of the tube, the

first member of each series of the projections or lugs 22 being spaced sufficiently far from the shoulder portions 21 and 29 to permit the projecting ends of the Wires 24, 26 to be twisted into a loop 28, which loops 2B prevent accidental pulling out of the Wires 24 and 26 from their respective passages 23, 25, and also form convenient attaching means for threads lor thin, exible strings 30 which form, in effect, continuations of the Wires'24 and 2B, but which are threadable more easily through holes 3i provided therefor in each of the projections 22. The ends of the strings 30 are knotted adjacent to the Vinflatable balloon member 20. By pulling on the Wires 24 and 26 and the strings 30, the distal tip f It) of the tube can be guided positively through the stomach and pylorus-under direct vision using the uoroscope for observing the course of the tube.

The provision of the guide means is found to facilitate greatly the use and manipulation of the improved tube of this invention, as the guide means for the tube enable the tip to be directed readily into the pylorus under fluoroscopic observation. Y ,Y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and Wish to secure by Letters -Patent is: v Y i 1. AA gastro-intestinal tube comprising a flexible body inclosing a pair of fluid passages eX- tending longitudinally throughthe body of the tube, a rigid distal tipon the tube, a resilient expansible member on the tube adjacent to the 4 tip, one of the fluid passages communicating with fluid passage ports provided in the tip and periphery of the tube proximally of the expansible member, the other of the ypair` of fluid passages opening into the expansible member,r

and oppositely disposed flexible guide means extending longitudinallyf"through the' body of the tube to apoint adjacent `to the expansible member for facilitating guiding the distal tip of the tube into and through the pylorus and into the small intestine.

2.' A gastro-intestinal tube comprising a flexible body enclosing a pair of fluid passages extending longitudinally through the body, a rigid distal tip on the tube, a resilient expansible s member on the tube adjacent to the tip, one of the said fluid passages communicating with fluid passage ports vprovided in the tip and periphery of the tube proxlmally of the expansible member, the other of the pair of fluid passages opening into thev expansible member, oppositely disposed -flexible guide means extending longitudinally through the body of the tube and terminating short of the expansible member, oppositely extending retaining -members intermediate the said'guide means and the expansible member, and flexible prolongations of :the 'said guide means extending through the said oppositely extending retaining members and secured to a terminal member thereof adjacent tothe expansible member for vfacilitating guiding the distal tip of the tube into and through the pylorus and into the small intestine.

' MARSHALL PAUL MAINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

